Tango and tulips: the life of Queen Máxima, Latina in the Dutch palace

While to many Dutch citizens, Queen Máxima seems more Netherlandic than a 'stroopwafel,' the modern, cheerful, and kind monarch still has a lot of her native Argentina inside of her. Let's have a look at Máxima's life story.

Maxima Zorreguieta was born on May 17, 1971, in Buenos Aires. She lived in the upper-class Recoleta neighborhood and studied at Northland School, a very elitist bilingual school. The family also went skiing regularly.

(Photo: RVD)

After graduating in Economics from the Catholic University of Argentina, Máxima went to New York to get work experience with several financial institutions.

Her experience in banking, especially with the principle of small loans to grassroots startups (microcredits), would later inspire the queen to travel around the world and support local businesses in countries like Indonesia and India.

Much of Máxima's time is devoted to humanitarian work. She has been very active for the United Nations, advocating women's economic advancement and inclusive finance in developing areas.

(Photo: RVD)

How did this Argentine banking expert meet the Prince of Holland? And what lies behind Máxima's exuberant laughs and smiles, wherever she goes?

It's been more than two decades since the up-and-coming investment expert ran into a Dutch prince at a party of common friends. Máxima was working in the U.S. but attended a party in the Spanish city of Seville.

Máxima had been asked to take photos of the party, and when she took one of a tall blond man - whom she didn't know - he reacted very nervously. He, as the Crown Prince of The Netherlands, thought she might be a journalist. This is how the couple got to talking.

(Photo: RVD)

Some reports say that the prince invited Máxima for a glass of champagne and asked her two questions: first if she knew football legend Diego Maradona and second, if she spoke Dutch. To both of them, the woman replied that she did not. Regardless, they started dancing and that night they fell in love.

All this took place in Seville during its yearly April Fair. Men and women traditionally dress in flamenco costumes and dance to guitar music and castañetes. After their marriage, Máxima and Willem Alexander often returned to Seville to celebrate the day they met. (This photo was taken in 2019, at their twentieth anniversary as a couple.)

In March 2001, having known each other for about two years, the couple announced their engagement. The wedding day was set for February 2, 2002.

(Photo: RVD)

The couple had a spectacular wedding on a remarkably sunny day in February. Yet, there was something off with the party as well.

Máxima Zorreguieta could not contain her tears during the church ceremony. To many spectators, it was endearing and seemed like a happy moment.

However, more than anything, they were tears of sadness and nostalgia. In the midst of her wedding ceremony, while the orchestra played a song from her childhood, 'Adios Nonino', Máxima thought about her father and how he was unable to attend the wedding.

Jorge Zorreguieta, Máxima's father, had been a businessman and politician in Argentina during much of the twentieth century. He was a controversial figure because he had served in the regime of the dictator Videla between 1976 and 1983.

Even though Zorreguieta only represented the Ministry of Agriculture in that government, historians tend to agree that he must have known about the many thousands of political detainees the regime made 'disappear' in those years.

In the image: Argentine Dictator Jorge Videla

His unequivocal collaboration with the Argentine dictatorship made it very difficult for the Dutch to invite him as a 'guest of honor' at their future King's wedding.

The Dutch government decided to prohibit Zorreguieta from attending Máxima's formal, televised wedding to Willem Alexander. That day, he and his wife watched his daughter's wedding on a hotel television set in London. The whole 'Zorreguieta affair' was an uncomfortable chapter in the Dutch royal family matters.

As far as royal reporters know, the Dutch royal couple has had no marital problems in the two decades that they have been married.

(Photo: RVD)

They get along very well with other royal families, such as the Spanish, Nordic, and British monarchs.

The Dutch royal family, including Máxima, is also close with the Japanese Emperor and his court. This photo shows Willem-Alexander and Máxima visiting the Emperor on the eve of his coronation. Máxima was wearing a spectacular design by Dutch fashion designer Jan Taminiau.

The couple has three daughters of which the eldest, Amalia, the Princess of Orange, has passed the age at which she could become queen. They are, from left to right: Ariane, Alexia, and Amalia.

(Photo: RVD)

On December 7, 2003, Máxima and Willem's first daughter was born. She was baptized as Catharina Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria. Her common name is Amalia.

(Photo: RVD)

Alexia Juliana Marcela Lorenza of Orange-Nassau was born on June 20, 2005. She looks most of the three like her mom!

(Photo: RVD)

Ariane Wilhelmina Máxima Inés is her official name, but all this can be summed up in Princess Ariane. The couple's youngest daughter was born on April 10, 2007.

(Photo: RVD)

From 2002 to 2013, Willem Alexander and Máxima fulfilled the duties of Crown Prince and Princess while raising their little children. In 2013, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands abdicated and the Prince became King Willem VI.

Queen Maxima embodies the recent revival of European Royal Houses. She's an inspiring, modern, and confident woman, comparable to other European royals who came from outside the aristocracy. Examples are Queen Letizia in Spain - a former journalist - and Sofia Hellqvist in Sweden - a former model and reality star.

Máxima has a very outspoken and colorful style, which adds to her popularity among younger Dutch people.

Máxima is a fashion icon and her big hats attest to that reputation.

Máxima has always been a very open and expressive person, in good times as well as bad times. Photographers love to capture the authentic emotion on her face during the numerous public events she attends.

When Máxima visits soccer games or Olympic tournaments with her family, she cheers on the athletes as if she's always been on the Dutch team.

Máxima didn't mind taking a dive into the questionable waters of the Amsterdam canals when she was invited for the City Swim. This charity event promotes awareness of ALS and funding for the research of its treatment and cure.

Behind the smiles and jokes, there's also a more serious side of Queen Máxima. She hasn't had the easiest time in the past years.

Queen Máxima suffered a hard blow when her father and her younger sister died briefly after each other. In 2017, her father Jorge Zorreguieta passed away. Máxima went to Buenos Aires for his funeral.

A second and probably harder shock came to the Zorreguieta family when they learned that Máxima's younger sister, Inés, had taken her own life. It happened in 2018. Ines had long suffered from depression and anorexia. The family was devastated, especially the Queen's daughters who were fond of their aunt Inés.

In 2021, Máxima's uncle - the brother of her mother who's pictured here - died from Covid-19 while also suffering from cancer. Máxima had been close to her uncle and often visited him in the Argentine countryside.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, she was not only prevented from seeing him on his deathbed or attending his funeral, but she could not be there for her mother either. Flying to and from Argentina simply wasn't an option.

The Queen celebrated her fiftieth birthday amidst Covid-19 restrictions in The Netherlands and apart from her family in Argentina. Still, she was surrounded by her daughters and husband.

In late 2021, two of her daughters left the home: Amalia to take a leap year after graduating high school, and Alexia (photo) to finish her baccalaureate at the prestigious Atlantic College in Wales.

Now that Amalia is going to college and Máxima's family life is changing, the Queen is picking up the routine of royal duties and public appearances. Of course, a visit to the Dutch tulip fields is part of that!

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